Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has claimed that if his team had secured a point against Manchester United it would not have been a “scandal”.

Crystal Palace went two goals to the good in the first half at Selhurst Park on Monday night thanks to hits from Andros Townsend and Patrick van Aanholt.

Manchester United managed to complete a dramatic turnaround after the break, with Chris Smalling and Romelu Lukaku drawing level by the 76th-minute mark.

Palace were a matter of minutes away from taking a point on home soil before Nemanja Matic scored a stunning strike to give United a 3-2 triumph.

After the match, Hodgson told Sky Sports News: “It was an incredible strike [from Matic]. We had some attacks ourselves in that period when it was 2-2. David de Gea made a great save from Christian Benteke.

“It is a wonder goal of course. It was worthy of winning a game but harsh when it’s come against you – especially when it doesn’t come from one of the classic goalscorers.

“We took the game to Manchester United. If we had drawn the game – I don’t think anyone, Jose [Mourinho] included – would have said it was a scandal.”